About Mindfulness Training
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is paying attention intentionally to the present moment with acceptance in a non-judgmental fashion.
Why is this useful?
Mindfulness has been shown to be helpful with a number of anxiety disorders and decrease relapse of depression in individuals with three or more depressive episodes. There are preliminary studies suggesting that it may help partially responding patients reach remission. There is also preliminary research suggesting that patients with treatment resistant depression may benefit from mindfulness based cognitive therapy.
What do we do?
We will use a combination of experiential exercises and group discussion to facilitate the development of mindfulness and its use in relationship to depression, anxiety and well being. These exercises will include work with loving-kindness, self- compassion, body scan, mindful yoga, and mindful meditation. We will also work with a number of other exercises aimed at understanding and managing anxiety and avoidant behaviors.
- To understand what mindfulness is and how to cultivate it.
- To develop both a formal and informal mindfulness practice.
- To cultivate mindfulness of body sensations, thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
- To use mindfulness to identify unskillful thought patterns, beliefs and behaviors.
- To develop a skillful relationship with thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- To learn to work skillfully and compassionately with difficult emotions and mind states in order to prevent the escalation of anxiety.
- We will explore avoidance behaviors and use mindful acceptance, values, intentions, and goals to foster moving toward a life worth living.
- To learn how to cultivate loving-kindness, compassion and self compassion.
- For each participant to discover for themselves what tends to bring more ease, happiness and a sense of well being and what tends to bring more dis-ease and dissatisfaction.
- We will review resources for continuing mindfulness practice after the group.